Tom Wilson: Superman’ absent in Mom’s time of need

By Tom Wilson

Saturday

Sep 20, 2014 at 6:30 AM

On Saturday, May 22, 2004, the first Tracking History Column appeared in The Register-Mail. Originally the idea of a history column was an experiment to judge if there might be reader interest. Due to cooperation from The Register-Mail news staff and reader subject contributions, the columns have continued for over 10 years.

The inaugural column reminded area residents that the mother of Superman of radio, television and comic book fame (George Reeves), Helen Lescher Bessolo, was born and raised in Galesburg. Her father and uncles operated a popular drug store (Lescher’s) on the Public Square, which is now the site of the Farmers & Mechanics Bank.

Early on the morning of Sunday, Nov. 5, 1958, a fire broke out in the Peerless Grocery Store on the northeast corner of the Public Square and East Main Street. The damage to the grocery was extensive and forced the emergency evacuation of residents in upper story apartments. Among those rescued was Superman’s mother, Helen Lescher Bessolo, from the top floor apartment. She was helped from a Main Street window by firefighters using the hook and ladder truck. The exciting episode prompted hundreds of onlookers and the media to ask, “Where Was Superman When His Mother Needed Him?”

The man who portrayed Superman during the 1950s was born George Keefer Brewer in 1914 in Woodstock, Iowa. His father was Don Brewer and his mother Helen Lescher. His parents separated shortly after his birth and his mother moved back to Galesburg. Eventually Helen Lescher would move to California and marry Frank Bessolo, who would adopt young George. The marriage lasted 15 years before Helen once again moved back to Galesburg.

The future Superman began his acting career while attending school in California. He also became an accomplished amateur boxer. George’s filming career began in 1939 when he was cast as a suitor of Scarlett O’Hara in the classic movie “Gone With The Wind.” It was at this time that Warner Brothers changed his professional name to George Reeves. He also appeared in movies starring James Cagney, Claudette Colbert and Ronald Reagan.

George Reeves was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943. Upon discharge from the Army he returned to movie acting roles and in June 1951 was given the role of Superman in a new television series. Needless to say his role as “The Man of Steele” is steeped in history.

Although he and mother Helen often were not on the best of terms, Superman George Reeves visited her in Galesburg on several occasions and he would stay in an upper apartment of the former Shively Shoe & Leather Goods Shop at 10 Public Square. The late Stewart Hawthorne related that he often visited with Superman while sipping malted shakes at the Hawthorne Drug Store.

Former WGIL radio announcer Jim Dunlevey shared that he frequently received on-the-air phone calls from Helen Bessolo to report a lost dog. Jim said she would always say, “This Is Mrs. Bessolo, Superman’s mother.” Norma Lee Hroziencik and her sister Gloria learned that George Reeves was at the O.T. Johnson Big Store diner with his actress wife Ellanora Needles. The sisters waited patiently in hopes of catching a glimpse and possibly obtaining an autograph. When the handsome actor departed the Big Store he stopped and smiled at Norma and Gloria. They became so excited that they failed to ask for an autograph.

In the early morning hours of June 16, 1959, Helen Bessolo received a dreaded phone call in her apartment near the Public Square. She was informed that her famous son George Reeves had died of a gunshot wound in his Beverly Hills residence. Fortunately a close Galesburg friend Lyle Arie volunteered to accompany Helen to California to make funeral arrangements.

Helen Lescher Bessolo never returned to her birth home of Galesburg again and remained distraught over the death of her son until her death on June 18, 1964. Her remains are buried in Pasadena, California. To this day the circumstances surrounding Reeves’ death remain highly controversial.

Yours truly suggested in several columns that a plaque should be placed in the center of the Public Square that reads, “Look! Up in the sky. it’s a bird... it’s a plane... No, it’s Superman flying over Galesburg.”

Tom Wilson is a local historian. Write to him at wilsont29@comcast.net or at The Register-Mail, 140 S. Prairie St., Galesburg, IL 61401.

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